Velocipede



Oct. 27,1925.-

' J. H. NELSON VELOCIPEDE Filed March 26, 1923 v 2 Sheets-shes: 1

- Milky Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,276

J. H. NELSON VELOCIPEDE Filed; March 26, 1,923 2 snooty-shut 2 Inwnlor $2222 H/Yelam Patented Oct. 27 1925.

* UNITED SU'TATE'S JOHN H. NELSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOGIPEDE.

Application filed March 26, 1923. Serial i 'o."627,540.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Velocipede, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to velocipedes and especially to tricycles; and the general object. ofthe invention is to produce a velocipede of a thoroughly practical character, rugged in construction and yet simplified so that it may be manufactured on an economical basis.

j A special aim of the invention has been to produce a tricycle combining in a practical manner the advantages ofthe bicycle and tricycle types of velocipedes. I

A still further object is to provide a construction for the frame such that it will possess ample strength and rigidity, may be cheaply constructed, and will present a neat appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tricycle which may be equipped with a second seat or carrier adapted to occupy an out-of-the-way position when not in use and serving when in this position as a bundle carrier.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages, may be attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof wherein I have illustrated the invention in its preferred form. It is contem plated, however, that various changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a tricycle-embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an underside View of the rear portion of the tricycle, partially in section to show details of construction. Fig. 3 is an underside view ofthe combined seat and carrier detached- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of the diagonal frame member. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the frame construction and the adjustable mounting of the crank shaft. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the construction of the frontfork.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the seat in its operative position.

The velocipede comprises a frame 8 supported upon a front wheel 9-and a pair of rear wheels 10, the latter being of any usual or preferred construction. 11 indicates the saddle, which'is mounted uponthe frame in the usual way, and 112 the handle bars secured to the front steering fork 13. V

The rear wheels 10 are mounted at the opposite ends of an aXle 14, one wheel (herein the right) being made rigid with the axle in any suitable way asby means of a key 15, and the left wheel being free.

The rear axle 14 is mounted in two aligned tubular cross members 16 constituting elongated journalbearings for the opposite ends of the axle and-also serving as firm nonrotatable foot supports. A pair of upright members 17 are rigidly secured to the adj acent ends of the cross members 16 and ex tend slightly forwardly and inwardly, forming a triangle with the cross members. The latter are connected with an upright front frame member 18 by a diagonal member 19 extending in an upwardly and forward direction. Between the front frame member 18 and the upright rear members 17 extends a topbar- 20; and from the juncture of the bar 20 and the member 17 a downwardly and forwardly extending frame member 21 proceeds for connection at its lower end with the midportion of the frame member 19.

, The frame is preferably made from tubular stock, the separate portions being secured together as by welding. In the case of the member 19, two pieces of stock are employed. Thus the rear end portion 19 is made from one piece 'bent into U-form (Fig. 2) and rigidly secured at its bight end with the forward end portion 19 which may be made from a straight piece of stock. The lower ends of the u-portion 19 are welded to the adjacent ends of the members. 16 and the arms of' the U-portionar secured together by a cross'piece 19 The members .16 are thus rigidly connected together but in such a manner as to form a space between them to receive a portion of the propellingv means as hereinafter set forth.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the frame member 19 as formed fromtwo solid rods bent into U-form as indicated at 22 and 23 and Welded together at their bight-ends with the frame ioo member 2]. The free ends of these lJ-portions 27?. and 23 are respectively welded to the front member 18 and to the rear cross members 16. This latter form, as illustrated in said l, possesses the advantage that it may be more cheaply constructed.

Tricycles now in general use employ as the actuating means pedal-carrying cranks rigid with the front steering. wheel. This method of propulsion is objectionable in that when the wheel is earned, and espe cially when turned rather sharply, the childs leg upon the far sioe of the wheel must be stretched or extended into an uncomfortable position and frequently comes in contact with the wheel. I have overcome this objection by providing a propelling means generally similar to that commonly employedin bicycles. Thus I provide in the present instance a chain and sprocket mechanism including a front or large sprocket 24 fast upon a crank shaft 25 which is journalle d in bearings 26 at the lower ends of a Ushaped member or fork 27 supported by the frame 8. Upon the rear argle 14 a small sprocket 28 is rigidly secured. This spr ckct located between the rear frame members 16 and the arms of the rear end the diagonal frame member- 19', sutlicient space only being provided between the members 16 to receive the sprocket 28. A chain 29 of usual or preferred construction connects these sprockets and crank arms 30 are rigid with the opposite ends of the shaft 25 and carry pedals 31.

By limiting the frame member 19 and the support 2? for the sprocket 2st in bifurcated or Ll-form. it possible to locate the chain and sprockets in medial position. [in important advantage in this 'is that it avoids the necessity of. using especial bearings as is usual in bicycle construction where the chain and sprocket mechanism is located to one side of the frame.

The sprocket fork 27 is also preferably made from tubular stock, and at the lower ends of the fork arms I weld or otherwise secure elongated tubular members forming the bearings for the crank shaft; The fork has at its upper end a shank 33 rigidly secured thereto as by welding, and this shank extends upwardly into the frame through the member iflamlinto the member The shank is by preference secured in position by means of a set screw 64, which provides for adjustment to accon'imodate.children of varying sizes. this adjustn'lent being in addition to that which is provided in the mounting of the saddle 11. By reason the forward and down ward inclination of the frame member 21., it will be apparent that when the fork 2? is adjusted downwardly, it will also move forwardly. Th will serve to take up any slack in the chain which naturally follows the wear which occurs during the growth of the child which necessitates the/downward adjustment. However, the chain 29 preferably is of that type which embodies links which may be detached or inserted at Will- The front fork member 13 is especially constructed to reduce its cost of manufacture. Thus it may be made from solid stock l and 6) bent up from a single rod to form front and rear U-members 35 ant 36 integrally connected at their lower ends and shaped at this point to form eye members 37 for receiving a short shaft or axle 38 upon which the front steering wheel 9 is journalled. At their upper ends the U-members and 36 are welded to a head member which carries an upwardly projecting stem or shank 40 j ournalledin the front frame member 18. The extreme upper end of the member 10 is connected to the shank ll of the handle bars 12 by suitable means including a clamping collar 4 The rear seat or luggage carrier is adapt ed to be detachably supported upon the upright rear frame members 17', and preferably it comprises a pair of side bars 4'13 connected at one end by a cross bar t l and having at their opposite ends downturned portions whichare adapted to enter socket members 46 rigidly secured upon the rear sides of the frame members 17 as by welding. A seat member l? is made of leather or the like and extends around the side frame members 4-3, their adjoining ends being laced together as at 48. Preferably the rear edge of the seat is w 'apped around the cross bar 4ft and stitched to the seat proper as at 4:9. The opposite or forward edge of the seat is left open. hen the seat is in use, the downturned portions 45 are entered in the socket members 46, with the seatextending rearwardly as shown in 7; and the proportioning of the parts is such that while the seat is located rearwardly the rearaxle, the weight for vardly of the axle, especially when occupied by a child seated upon the saddle 11, is ample to prevent any rearward tilting of the device. \Vhen the rear seat is not in use the rear ends 4 3 ofthe side bars 43 may be entered in the socket members -16 as shown in Fig. 1. In this relation of the parts the seat is in an out-of-tl1eway position, and at the same time the seat portion proper. being open at its upper end, con stitntes a receptacle for receiving books packages, or the like.

As shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 the chain and sprocket mechanism is in practice preferably enclosed within a housing of any suitable 0r preferred character.

It will be observed that I have produced a tricycle which is capable of manufacture at a relatively low cost and'yetone which presents numerous advantages over the tricycle now in common use. By the provision of the chain and sprocket drive, the device embodies the advantage of the bicycle residing in the facility with which it may be steered and operated, and the use of two rear wheels instead of one, as is the case in the bicycle, renders it possible for use by children without danger 'of tipping. The frame construction lends strength and rigidityto the device as a whole, and also pro vides an advantageous mounting for the driving means without resort to expensive equipment.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tricycle having, in combination, a frame having front and rear supporting wheels, and propelling means independent of the front wheelv and operatively connected with one of the rear supporting wheels, said propelling means including a crank shaft, and said frame including a tubular upwardly and rearwardly extending member open at its lower end, a fork having a shank secured in the lower end of said frame member and having journal hearings in its lower free ends in which said shaft is mounted, and pedal-carrying crank arms fast upon said shaft.

2. A tricycle comprising a frame having two alined elongated cross members in its lower rear portion, a rear wheel supporting axle journaled in said cross members, and propelling means including a gear element fast upon said axle midway between its ends, said cross members being spaced apart to receive said gear element, and. said frame also including a pair of members extending upwardly and forwardly from each of the rear cross members upon opposite sides of said gear element, said pair of members being connected together near their lower ends whereby to connect the rear cross members.

3. A tricycle comprising a frame having alined cross members and an uprightly disposed front member, a front steering wheel having a fork journaled in the front frame member, a pair of rear supporting wheels having an axle journaled in the rear cross members, saidframe also including a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from the frontframe member to the rear cross members, and an intermediate uprightly disposed member extending upwardly from said downwardly and rearwardly inclined frame member, and'propelling means including a gear element having a supporting fork adjustably secured within said up right intermediate frame member.

4. A tricycle comprising a frame having alined rear cross members and an uprightly disposed front member, a front steering wheel having a fork journaled in the front frame member, a pair of rear supporting wheels having an axle journaled in the rear cross members, said frame also including a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front frame member to the rear cross members, and propelling means including a main operating gear element having a supporting fork depending from said downwardly and rearwardly inclined frame member substantially midway between the front and rear supporting wheels.

' 5. A tricycle comprising a frame having alined rear cross members, a pair of uprightly disposed rear frame members rigidly connected with the respective cross members and extending inwardly so as to form a triangle with said cross members, and propolling-means including a rear wheel supporting axle journaled in saidcross members and having a gear element rigidly secured thereto midway between its ends, said cross members being spaced apart to receive the gear element. e

6. A tricycle comprising a frame having a diagonal frame member extending down-' wardly and rearwardly in the frame, and an uprightly disposed member extending upwardly and rearwardly from said diagonal frame member from a point approximately midway between the ends of the latter, said diagonal member having a bifurcated rear or lower end portion formed from a piece of metal bent into U-form and rigidly secured to the forward portion of said diagonal frame member and to the lower end of said upright frame member.

7. A tricycle comprising a frame having a diagonal frame member extending downwardly and rearwardly in the frame, and an uprightly disposed member extending upwardly and rearwardly from said diagonal frame member from a point approximately midway between the ends of the latter, said diagonal member having a bifurcated rear or lower end portion formed from a piece of metal bent into U-formand rigidly secured as by welding to the forward portion of said diagonal frame member and to the lower end of said upright frame member, and propelling means for the tricycle including a rear wheel supporting axle, a crank shaft having its support at the juncture of said upright frame member with the diagonal fram member, sprockets on said shaft and rear axle respectively, and a chain extending over said sprockets and passing between the arms of the bifurcated rear end of the diago nal member.

8. A tricycle having a frame including a diagonal member extending in a downward and rearward direction, a pair of alined rear cross members, the lower rear end of the diagonal member being bifurcated and integrally connected with said crossmembers, the latter being spaced a short distance apart, and propelling means including a cross members and having a gear el thereon between the cross members, a second gear element having a crank shaft, a fork rigidly secured to and depending from said diagonall ran e ineinher and having said crank shaft journaled in its lower free e a chain passing over said g; i elem between the arms of the diagonal member ar d said sup-porting fork,and1neans for operating; said crank shaft.

9. 1r velocipede having a frameinch-idino' a downwardly and reaivm'ai'dly extending; d5.

member constructed from two pieces of solid rod stock each bent into U-f 1 and having its hight end welded to the h A t end of the other the lower re r end of the Lame member constituting a fork to receive hetween its arms the chain of the propelling means.

10. A veloeip ed-e having a rear supporting Wheel and a frame in which said supporting Wheel is, mounted having a pai of elongated alined cross-n5 n iliers a rear e having one of said supporiin-g Wheels rigid therewith and journalled in said cross nienioers, and propelling one inch.

upon e said inelu y iagonal f D'EQIPJOQI constructed from we separate pieces of stock one of which is ent into lJ-rorni and integmllgi secured to the other to form spaced arms the ends of which are .Qfl'tllly secured to; said cross l the latter behag spaced apart between said arms to reeeive the gear element on the rear axle;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afi'irtedrn Si H LijU1-.

JOHN H. anrisor. 

